Fractional distillation



Nov. 9, 1943. -z-:. w. ECKEY FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION Filed Aug. 27, 1940 v INVENTOR.

Eaay W ECKEY. BY mak /4am ATTORNEYS- Patented Nov. 9, 1943 Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinn'atLOhio, a corporation of Ohio 7 V v Application August 27, 1940, Serial No. 354,42a.

10 Claims. (01. 202-153) This invention relates primarly to the art of fractional distillation. i

The primary object of my invention is to provide an eflicient apparatus and process for the fractional distillation of a mixture of liquids having diiierent boiling points.

The conventional fractionating column," which is a, convenient device for carrying out-a series of successive partial distillations and condensations, ordinarily termed fractional distillation, operates at substantially constant pressure. However, as pointed out below, apressure difference may exist in such columns, the higher pressure being at the bottom of the device.

When the column is in operation, condensate descends by gravity counter current to ascending vapors, the vapor and liquid being in more or less intimate contact with each other throughout.

Samples of liquid taken at successively higher points in the fractionating column will show successively higher concentrations of the more volatile constituent of the mixture being distilledand temperatures taken at thesame points will be successively lower corresponding with. the successively lowerboiling points resulting from the presence 01 successively greater concentrations of more volatile constituent.

The pressure at any point within the column depends primarily on the operating pressure but also depends on its design, the type and amount of packing if the same is employed, and the rate at which the column is operated. Thispressure is practically always appreciably'lower at the top than at the bottom or the columnand this difference in pressure represents the pressure required to force the vapors upward against the descending stream of liquid thereby tending to oppose high fractionating emciency, Ordinarily,

pressure zones and the less volatile fractions would beobtained from the lower pressure zones,

'3. condition contributing several advantages as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In accordance with .my invention, outstanding precisefractionation may be obtained in both continuous fractional distillation, wherein the feed in vapor or liquid form is continuously introduced at some point in the apparatusythe light and heavy fractions being continuously I withdrawn, and in batch fractional distillation whereinthe vapors from a batch still are passed through a fractionating apparatus. While the present invention will be described primarily as applied to batch fractional distillation, it will be understood that by the application of rules,

7 principles and basic laws well known to those versed in the art, the invention can be applied with equal facility and success to continuous fractional distillation.

The above mentioned object and aspects of my 7 invention as well as the various features of a preferred embodiment thereof will be understood from-the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a general view, diagrammatic in parts, illustrating a fractionating column constructed in accordance with my invention and adapted to' operate in conjunction with a batch still the pressure difference is kept as small as factors involved'in column design "will permit. Such. fractional distillation, in spite of the existence of ,any such pressure differential, can be termed temperature gradient fractionation because+ fractionation is dependent primarily on the dif:

ference in the boiling point temperatureoi' the various fractions.

It is also possible to fractionate amixtureof distinguished from a temperature gradient and at a substantially constant temperature throughout the fractionatingcolumn and thereby avoid such as a heating coil l2. through vapor pipe i3 and into the fractionating Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the grooved rotor. of Fisure 1; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic drawing of a section of another type of fractionating column coming within the scope of my invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 showing a preferred embodiment 'of the invention, a still III is provided in which a mixture of liquids ii having diiieren't boiling points is boiled by the applica-, tion oi heat through a suitable heating element The vapor passes column indicated generally at A.

I liquids having constituents of different boiling points by operating under a pressure gradient as the disadvantages attending temperature gra-- dient operation. In such a system the more volatile fractions would be obtained from the higher The fractionating-column comprises two essential parts: the casing i4 and the rotor IS. The casing in the present instance is cylindrical in shape and a cross section of same should be as near a perfect circle as possible so as to permit free rotation-of the rotor therein with substantially uniform small clearance as more fully hereinafter described. To avoid undue condenaction within the fractlon'atingcolumn and loss of heat, a jacket It may surround the casing ll thereby forming a jacket space I! through which being provided.

The rotor comprises upper and lower shaft extensions I 8 and I9 respectively. These shaft extensions provide bearing surface for the upper and lower bearings and 2| respectively which may be cooled by the circulation of a suitable.-

the rotor I5 is cylindrical in shape,fits within the a temperature controlling liquid may be .circuand operations of; the rotor and the. clearancebw I lated, suitable inlet and outletmeans 26 and 21 tween: the; rotor andgthelnner .wall iof-the casing I 4 landsthese condltionszwlllbe-more thoroughly understoods-from the,followingcexamplea Example;--Dimenslons-, :of-iessentlal parts of 1 a casing M with suitable clearance and is provided with a continuous groove 22.

When rotatedby a source of power (not shown) through. pulley 25" it resembles a screw conveyor or the augenin'a meat chopper or soap plodder in its action and forces vapors from the bottom to the top of the fractionating column, the continuous groove, of

course, acting as the passageway. The efliciency of the equipment generally, and more specifically the pressure difierential built up, is dependenton the amount and uniformity of clearance between the inside wall of the casing I4 and the-'rotora Consequently it is essential that the rotor and.

easing be concentric and that the amount of clearance be carefully worked out, taking into con-- sideration speed of rotation-of the rotor, type of material being distilled, thicknessof film-ofrefluxed material, etc, so, that slippage of vaporfgo noessenflalmart between the rotor and the casing wall is maintained at a minimum.

In Figure 2 I have shown an enlarged view of the grooved rotor ofiFigure 1 which is provided with a triple .righthand groove for example. In Y indicated by.-

this .figure various dimensions are letter:

a represents the depth of groove; b represents, width of the land; c represents the width of the groove;

e represents the outside diameter of the rotor.

pass through the vapor pipe l3' and' are picked 1) represents the pitch of the groove;' I d represents the root diameter of the rotor, and

up by the groove on the rotating rotor l5. As the vapors are forced upwardly in: the column by operation of the rotor they are gradually compressed and fractionation occurs .due to the gradual increasein pressure as the vapors approach the upper end of the rotor I5. It may be de- 3 sirable to assist in maintaining the fractionating column at a substantially constant temperature in which case a temperature controlling means may be circulated through thezjacket space H. Vapors existing. at the top of the fractionating column are drawn oil throughvapor pipe 28 to'.

suitable condensing equipment not shown.

As the vapors ascend the fractionatingcolumn and are subjected to gradual increase'in pressure,

a certain amount of condensation takes place I and this condensate will flow downwardly in a film on the inner wall of the casing l4 coming in intimate contact with the vapors in the'groove. After the column has'been in operation for some time, an equilibrium will be set up as is the case in any ordinary type of fractionating column, and vapor will tend to be in equilibrium with the liquid condensate at any given point throughoutthe column.

As stated above the difference in pressure be-, I tween the top and the bottom of the fraction--- ating column will depend wholly on the design:

working unit constructed ,in accordance .with the abovedescription are as follows:

v Inches 3 Inside diameter ofcasinga; 3.0001 Outsidev .diameter of: rotor ll 2.980; i Clearances; .010 Length pf grooved portion'of, rotor; 24.00v Root-diameter 'oirotor; 2.48 a

Depth of;-g'roove- Ktriple;:righthand groove Bearin i shaft"extensions,;,bearings, and pack ing glandsaround the rotorshaftsflare constructed in any-suitable. manner to suit'the. particular use to which the column is put; Foruinstancer bearing and gland constructionvwill depend on whether '5 the column -isvto; be operated 'Jata greater than 1 atmospheric or less .1 than atmospheric pressure; I

and suitable means of construction which are well kIlOWILtO-zthOSfl versed inthe artv and constitute" ofthe present invention may be: r

used.;

I haveoperated a columnisoconstructed inthe distillation ;of =a .test smixture of carbon: tetrae I chlorideyand benzene inwhich the concentrations were such that th'e mol :II'ECtlOn of carbon tetra-,1 chlorideaatg-the beginning/of "the distillation was 225.; 'With *the rotor-rotating ,at.-4950E R.- P. and the pressure at the. top of the column, one L atmosphere. the pressure at; the bottom" of the, column wasriiles's than thatvat the top of the 'T columnby 27 millimeters of mercury. This :pressure difference remained nearly thesame at rates of, distillation that caused reflux fromr-the-cone' denser .atthetop of the @column varying-from 1 g to more than'20-grams-per minute. Vapor tem-- .peratureatthe outletof the-column was. 77 C L and atthe inlet less than l-higher but this inlet temperature was about 1 lower-than the boiling...

point of'the liquid in the-still measured atythe pressure existingat the outlet of the column.

Ata rate of reflux-of .aboutl4 grams per minindex. v The separation obtained corresponds with a this column. has, a working length of 24'lnches, the calculated the rotor. 1

In Figure -3 isshown another arrangement whereby theynecessary pressure difierence for densateplates -H)l with overflow pipes IM'adaptedito conductliquid from one-plate to thelnext height per theoretical plate" in these distillations was'slightly more than. 1 inch, or less than 1%: times the'pitch .of the groove on calculated number of theoretical. plates? of about 21 basedon infinite reflux. Similar values. wereobtained. in distillations starting with .dif-'' ferent proportions of the twoconstituentsi .Slnce operation of a fractionating column-in accord? .ance with the present invention may be obtained. -This drawingis diagrammatic and shows-a cas- I ing I00 containing at spaced'intervals liquid 'condown the column.

lower inlets. A shaft I93 operating' in suitable end bearin s not shown, contains thereon aseriesof impellers 110.4 of suitablefldeslgn sothat when the [shaft i113 is',r0tit each impeller draws vapor vfrom the'next lower compartment and forces it outward toward the column wall Illll. As is shown, the lmpellersareseparated by the plates lfll with close clearance on thelovver side ofthe impeller to minimize leakage of vapor In operation the refluxing liquidiuns down the column .wall where it intimately contacts Ya;

pors discharged by the impellers'toward the wall 190. @The liquid collects on the plates and flows ,down through a trap lJlipr'ovided at the lows end of the overflow pipes I02 anddischarges"v the topside of the next lower impelleflwhich; to its rotating action, sprays the liquid outwardly against the wall I00.

instant method of fractional distillation isop'er atedvso as to combine with the columnstructure the appropriate column through'a series of zones havingsucce sively-higher-pres'sures. .In other words-the-I actionating column operates asa combined co ntercurrent column and amulti-stagevaporc mp sse f If desired, it is possible to operatefractionating devices of my invention sothat there exist,

not only pressure gradient'butalsotmpe ure gradient conditions within the apparatus, the

by operating so that the gradual increase in pressure and consequent condensation of vapor is suflicient to raise the temperature of uncon densed vapor which, by virtue of its higher temperature, rnay be employed in a suitable manner 7 to preheat the incoming material being subjected to fractional distillation;

The vapors are thus pumped upward-through, the column counter current'to the flow of the liq-v uid. Suitable connectionsat the top and bottom for receiving the fractions should, of course,, be

It will be obvious from the description that the moving elements that will force the vapors :from the bottom to the top .of.,;th e

ivaeul m heeeu 0 ,zontal disc with asplral groove adapted to rotate with close .oleflrance nearfa stationary disc, 59 as to pump'vapor towardthe' center of the disc while thefliquid, clue to centrifugal ,force, is thrown outward toward the" edge of the disc. Other designs may be employed.

A .iractionating apparatus constructed in ac- ,acerdan .withmy invention will have very distinct advantages over the conventional type of -fractionating device, the more important of them heiame i ienedbelew- {The ,controliof iteniperature in a fractionating appa a i kimnertemy n has. to be provided forli preciSefract-io tion' isto beobtained. Con- Pmen avebee a k d temperature "gradient con- I i eat Oneadvantase of a fracea r tus su h a the er in o e is, that it J peratesgat a" pressure .llrfi ient. thus maki.1ie vpos s t hreus evt t not ma erials that require high w, volatility orisensitiveness 'ctionating apparatus herein adaptable. I With a conlumn, or plate and cap .001- system capable of maintaincf top of thecolumn at one atthe'bottom of the col-- ihfthedlsnll l sid bly reatenanywhere from, ,e lexampler e .ete t man t me t e pressure at order to, overcome this euntemt p ssureiubatehfr ctio a i i The moredesirable types of vaporpumps'to use inthe construction of'an apparatus suitable for my process 'arethose having rotatingr'elements as described above rather vthanreciprocating elements. @In addition to those vapor pumps or blowers specifically given above, theremaybe mentioned-the ordinary fan type with rotating propellers, an electrician beinga familiar exam 7 v diaphragm or piston pumps is used may also be employed-in the practice of this invention.

In the foregoing-description, I have shown my invention as applied toan upright column type fractionating apparatus. .However, I wish it understood that the formwhich the apparatus may be given is not a limitation of my invention.

. For example, the apparatus may comprise a horimien; fe eX in lei-Q t snee ssary o i c t ivapor'pressure th' till, whichmay require the us p imdesi ab v ightempera u t type or 'apparatusiwhich I propose,the vapors are fojr'ced upwardly thatthe pressure at thetop o the au e ebu -ie-lsre er t a he b tt m! thus makingisuchdncreasedtemperatures in the still pot unnecessary. In iact in my invention pressures are lowest in the still thus favoring flow of reflux liquidtoward same. Of course, similar advantages will be noted when the apparatus is employed in conjunction with continuous fraciionalllat -Fu rthermore,,it is known thatentrainment, an ever present worry in, distillation operations including those employing tractionat'ing columns, is aiiected materially by vapor velocities and that in ordinaryoperations velocities above 5 or 6 feet 1 per second are; prohibitive .in most instances. wi h therres nt nvent en in u where n. rotating elerments.jare employed for compressing the ,gas, vaporvelocitiesmay be materially increased fw-ithout excessive entrainment of liquid, thus .rnaklngpossible higher capacities for any given size of apparatus.

The field for the pressure gradient type of fractionating column would include I distillation of materials too volatile to distill in a so-called molecular still and yet not volatile enough to v distill quiteisatisiactorily in columns at present available, Higher iatty acids and alcohols, monoglycerides, lubricatingoils' and other petroleum derivatives wouldafall in this category.

Highly volatilemixtures or mixture containing a volatile ira ction might also be distilled in the instant ype ptiractionating column to ad-- vantage. In tee wherethe volatile. fract on is difllcu'lt to oiide se at atmospheric pressure, the column could be run with the heavy fr tion taken 01! at atmospheric pressure and W1 h the more volatile fraction removed at considerably higher pressure. Rectification of volatile gasolines or separation of light gasoline from natural gas might be included in such uses of the pressure gradient iractionating column.

While the fractionating apparatus of my invention will find its greatest use in the field of distillation, actually it may be employed in-a number of related fields wherein liquid and vapor move countercurrently in contact with each other and the separation of constituents is dependent on difference in boiling points or difference in solubility of gas in a liquid at different pressures. Thus, for example, the apparatus may be employed as a stripping column or as a column for use in gas scrubbing.

Having, thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A iractionating column adapted to fractionate vapors evolved in boiling a mixture of ingredients having different boiling points, comprising a casing, a rotor adapted to revolve within said casing, and ahelieal groove in the wall of said rotor adapted to carryvapqs under gradually increasing pressure to the outlet of said column, the clearance between said rotorwvall serious vapor slippage.

.2. In combination with a still, a liquid and vaporcontact device adapted to fractionate vapors evolvedinboiling a mixture of ingredients pors during rotation from the inlet to the outlet: oil said column, the said outlet being at'higher pressure than thesaid inlet, and the clearance between said casing and the outside diameter of avoid se--.

said shaft being sufllciently small to serious vapor slippage. Y

ting but freely movable rotor in said casing, and a helical passageway on said rotor adapted to pump vapors under progressively increasing pressure tothe outlet of said device, the clearance between said rotor and said casing being s mciently great to permit the return of refluxing condensed vapors, but sufliciently small to avoid serious vapor slippage.

6. In a still for'selectively condensing a desired ingredient from a mixed vapor, a casing, means for causing a flow of said mixed vapor into the casing and a rotor in said casing having a helical groove thereon adapted to provide free passage for vapor without obstruction by refluxing condensate, and to force said vapors toward the outlet of said, casing under progressively in-' creasing pressure, the clearance between said rotor and said casing being suiilciently great to I permit the return of refiuidngcondenscd vapors but sufflciently small to avoid serious vapor slippa e. 1

'7. A'pressure gradient constant temperature fractionatlng "device adapted to fractionate vapors evolved in boiling a mixture of ingredients having difierentboiling points, comprising 9. casing, a rotatable shaft in said casing, a helical passageway on said shaft adapted v to carry g vapors under progressively increasing pressure and said casi bei sufli wntl small to a fi to the outlet of said device andmeans formaintaining the saidcasing'and the contents thereof at' a ubstantially constanttemperature, the

. clearanceetween said-shaft. and said casing be- 3. A pressure gradiant'liquid and vapor con-- tact device adapted to fractionate vapors evolved,

in boiling a mixture of ingredients having diflerent boiling points, comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft in said casing and a helical passage-,

way on said shaft adapted to -force vapors dura ing suflicientlir all to avoid serious vapor slippage;

8.7A pressure gradient constant temperature fractionating device adapted to fractionate vapors evolved in boiling a\mixt ure of ingredients I having difier'ent boiling pointa, comprising a trolling Jacket for said casing, the clearance between said shaft and said .casing being sufllciently small to avoid serious vaporslippage,

9. A pressure gradient liquidiand vapor contact device adapted to fractionate vapors evolved in boiling a mixture ofingredientsfhaving different boiling points, comprising a' casing, a rotor in ,saidcasing, anda vapor passageway on said rotor leading, from the inlet to the outlet of said device great to' permit the return of refluxing con--" densed vapors but sufiiciently small to avoid serious vapor slippage.

4. In a still for selectively condensing a de-:

sired ingredient from a mixed vapor, a casing, an inlet for the introduction of mixed vapor into said casing and a rotatable,flow-inducing, pres-.

sure-developing mechanism Within said casing providing free passage for vapor without obstruction to flow by refluxing condensate and adapted to progressively increase the pressure on said vapors non-pulsatively as they pass through said casing whereby a pressure is obtained on the" mixed vapors which results in condensation of desired ingredient, the clearance between said casing and said rotatable mechanism being sufil'-' and adap'tedto pump vapors underprogressively increasing pressure to'said outlet when said rotor is rapidly rotated, the clearance between said a rotor and said'casing being sufliciently small to avoid serious vapor slippage.

1 0. In combination with a still,'a pressure gradientliquid and vapor contact device adapted to iractionate vapors evolved in boiling a mixture of ingredients having different boiling points, comprising a casing, -a rotor in said casing, a vapor passageway on said rotor to provide free passage of vapors and adapted to pump vapors non-pulsatively under progressively increasing pressure, to the outlet of said device when said rotor is rapidly rotated, and means for rotating said rotor, the clearance between said rotor and CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,555,712. November 9, 1914.5.

EDDY w. Ecm.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, sec-- 0nd column, line 7-8, for *acacordance" read --accordance--; page 1;, first column, line 29', strike out "sufficiently small to avoid";and insert instead --at least 0.01 inchbut not so greatae to permit--; line bl, strike out n n;11 e 1 5, f r "gradient" read --gradient-; linesl 2and 69, and second column, lin 5 4-: +5 and 56, after the word "slippage" and before the period insert --o'ut sufficiently great ,to permit the return of re-, fluxing condensed vapors; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of February, A. D. 1911,14.-

v Henry Van Arsdele, (Seel) Acting Commissioner of Patents: 

